Ace vs. Law

Marine Headquarters · Intelligence Division

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the blinds into the office, casting a quiet golden glow over the dark wooden bookcases.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air, filling the room with a gentle sense of peace.

Vice Admiral Tsuru had just put down the document in her hands. She rubbed her slightly weary brow, picked up a cup of hot tea, and took a gentle sip.

Her expression was always gentle and composed, but now a faint trace of weariness flickered in her eyes.

A soft knock came from outside the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Roy walked in, the white justice coat swaying gently behind him.

His familiar smile was as calm and confident as ever, with a touch of easygoing freedom.

"Ms. Tsuru, sorry to bother you."

Tsuru looked up slightly. When she saw Roy, a gentle light flickered in her eyes. "Roy, you came straight to the Intelligence Division as soon as you got back. Looks like something urgent?"

Roy sat down across from her, his manner humble but at ease. "There is something I'd like your help with."

Tsuru set down her teacup and folded her hands on the desk, her gaze sharp yet calm. "Go on."

Roy smiled faintly, took a neatly folded note from inside his coat, and slid it across the desk.

"I'd like the Intelligence Division's help finding someone."

Tsuru took the note and gently unfolded it with her slender fingertips.

The handwriting on the paper was neat and firm:

—[Gild Tesoro]

She frowned slightly and slowly read the name aloud. "This name... there doesn't seem to be any particular record of him.

A pirate? Or a merchant from the Underworld?"

"Right now," Roy said, shaking his head slightly, "he might just be a nobody, but he has a great deal of potential."

"In the future, he might become someone capable of shaking the world economy~"

Tsuru's gaze moved between Roy and the note. Her fingertips tapped the desk, producing a crisp click.

"To have Rear Admiral Roy come here personally and take him so seriously... it seems this man is no ordinary person."

She raised her eyes and narrowed them slightly, a sharp, scrutinizing look in her gaze. "What's the reason?"

Roy smiled faintly, a meaningful curve forming at the corner of his mouth. "In the future, his ability will be of great use to the Marines. Especially—"

He changed tack, his voice growing slightly lower. "Especially when dealing with 'certain beings.'"

Tsuru's fingertips paused, and a knowing look flashed in her eyes.

"Certain beings..."

She repeated the words softly, her gaze growing deeper. Clearly, she knew exactly what Roy meant by "certain."

After a few seconds of silence, Tsuru finally nodded gently and put the note in a drawer. "The Intelligence Division will make this a priority, Roy. But—"

She looked meaningfully at the young man before her, her eyes holding a trace of motherly warmth, along with the complicated feelings one might have toward a precocious child.

"You... always manage to see things others can't."

Roy smiled, his gaze as calm as the sea, humble yet with a hint of sharpness. "Thank you, Ms. Tsuru."

He rose, saluted, and turned to leave, his steps brisk and decisive.

The door closed softly, and silence returned to the office.

Tsuru picked up her teacup and looked in the direction Roy had gone. A faint smile appeared in her eyes as she murmured to herself,

"What a hard-to-read kid..."

Sunlight fell across her face through the blinds, reflecting a touch of warmth and anticipation.

Marine training grounds · Afternoon

The sun scorched the sandy training grounds like a blazing fire. Drops of sweat evaporated the instant they hit the ground, turning into wisps of white vapor.

Ace, Luffy, and Law had arrived early and were waiting at the edge of the grounds.

Zephyr was leading a group of recruits through intense physical training, his voice booming with its usual authority.

The recruits' training clothes were already soaked with sweat, but not one of them complained of exhaustion. Drake, in particular, performed every movement with precision, her eyes focused and alert. She had long since fully adapted to the pace and intensity of the Marine recruit camp.

Whoosh!

A flash of white streaked past, and Roy appeared as if out of thin air, landing firmly at the edge of the training grounds.

"Roy!"

Luffy spotted him first and waved both hands excitedly, his eyes sparkling.

Roy smiled faintly and gave Zephyr a textbook salute. "Instructor Zephyr."

Zephyr wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at Roy, then at the boy behind him. Although he was somewhat puzzled, he didn't ask further, and a hint of a pleased smile flashed in his eyes.

He had always trusted Roy's judgment.

Roy turned to Ace, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Haven't you been going on about wanting to spar with Law? I'm giving you a chance today."

Ace blinked, then smirked and looked at Law with a challenging gleam in his eyes. "Can he really handle it? I don't think he even knows how to use Haki, does he?"

Law's expression was cool. He merely raised his eyes to glance at Ace and offered no explanation.

Smack!

Roy raised a hand and lightly slapped the back of Ace's head. "If I tell you to fight, then fight. What's with all the chatter? Use your Haki however you like. Don't hold back."

Ace rubbed the back of his head and grinned. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Roy turned to Law, his tone calm but carrying a hint of encouragement. "You too. You can use your ability to the fullest."

Law nodded slightly and walked calmly toward the center of the training grounds.

The recruits around them stopped what they were doing, their faces full of curiosity and excitement as they all turned to watch the two in the arena.

"Hey, isn't that Ace? The monster kid who could use Haki at nine!"

"Who's the kid in the hat? He looks so small and skinny. Can he handle it?"

"Don't underestimate him! Rear Admiral Roy brought him here, so he's got to have some skills!"

Drake stood among the crowd with her arms crossed, watching the two on the field calmly. A faint fighting spirit flashed in her eyes.

Center of the training grounds

Ace rolled his wrists, a sly smile on his lips. "Don't go crying, rookie."

Law looked indifferent, his eyes beneath the brim of his hat as calm as water. Only his slightly raised eyebrow showed a hint of disdain. "You talk too much."

Zephyr stood at the edge of the field, arms crossed, his voice booming. "Begin!"

—The battle erupted!

Ace struck first, darting forward like a cheetah. His fist, wrapped in a faint layer of Armament Haki, shot straight at Law's face!

"So fast!"

Law's pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained calm.

He raised his right hand—

"ROOM!"

A pale blue spherical space suddenly expanded. Its range was small, but enough to cover them both!

Ace's fist seemed to strike empty air, passing straight through Law's body without meeting any resistance, as if he had punched through mist!

"What?!"

Ace's pupils shrank sharply, shock surging through him. He had clearly taken aim!

An uproar immediately broke out among the spectators!

"H-he suddenly disappeared?!"

"No! That's a Devil Fruit ability!"

Law appeared behind Ace, a scalpel in his right hand flashing coldly!

A chill shot up Ace's spine to the crown of his head. He twisted aside, and the blade grazed the edge of his clothes!

He quickly put some distance between them, a serious and bewildered look flashing in his eyes for the first time. "What kind of ability is that...?!"

He was stunned. He had never really fought a Devil Fruit User before, and watching his opponent stand right in front of him while being unable to touch him gave him his first taste of helplessness.

Law's face remained calm as he brought his hands together. "Shambles!"

Whoosh!

The sand beneath Ace's feet instantly turned into a hard stone slab, throwing him off balance!

"Damn it!"

Ace's heart tightened. He kicked off the ground and leaped, his legs tensing with a sudden burst of power—

"Tempest Kick!"

More than a dozen blades of wind shot out, tearing through the air with a shrill howl!

Law's gaze sharpened. He deployed ROOM again and instantly swapped places with a rock. The wind blades roared into empty space, blasting up clouds of sand and dust!

Outside the field, Luffy jumped up and down excitedly. "That's amazing! Ace can't hit him!"

Drake frowned beside him, amazement flashing in her eyes. "A spatial ability... no wonder Rear Admiral Roy values him so highly."

Zephyr rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The Op-Op Fruit... Sengoku really did take in one incredible grandson."

At the center of the training grounds.

Ace panted heavily, beads of sweat covering his forehead.

Facing a Devil Fruit User for the first time, he actually had the illusion of being almost in despair.

"This can't go on..."

He gritted his teeth to himself and, with a thought, suddenly pushed off the ground, his muscles taut as bowstrings!

"Soru!"

His figure vanished in an instant, reappearing in front of Law the next moment!

"Got you!"

His Haki-wreathed fist slammed straight toward Law's abdomen!

Bang!

Law grunted as he was knocked back several meters. He dropped to one knee, his face slightly pale.

Cries of surprise erupted from the spectators. "He hit him!"

Ace panted as he stared at Law, filled with a fighting spirit he had never felt before and a trace of excitement—

"So Devil Fruit Users aren't invincible after all!"

But Law slowly raised his head, a cold smile curling his lips. His gaze seemed to see through Ace's thoughts as he flicked a finger upward.

"Scalpel!"

Ace froze. He tried to activate Tekkai, but suddenly felt a chill on his chest. Looking down, he saw a clean cut in his coat, while his skin remained unscathed.

If he hadn't held back with that cut, I'd probably already be...

A drop of cold sweat slid down Ace's temple.

Law slowly stood and dusted himself off. "Still want to fight?" he asked indifferently.

Ace was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Interesting! Let's go again!"

But just then, Zephyr raised a hand, his voice commanding. "That's enough!"

Both of them looked at him at once.

Zephyr stepped forward, his expression serious. "Ace, you're not proficient enough at using your Haki yet."

He turned to Law, his gaze softening somewhat. "Law, this is your first time using your Fruit ability in real combat. Your stamina is already almost at its limit, isn't it?"

Law panted lightly and nodded, his expression still calm.

Roy came over and smiled as he patted them both on the shoulders. "Well done."

Ace curled his lip, but determination gleamed in his eyes. "I'll definitely win next time!"

Law glanced at him indifferently. "Suit yourself."

Zephyr looked at them and suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Roy, these two kids... they're interesting!"

The corners of Roy's mouth lifted slightly. "So, I'll have to ask you to keep looking after them, Instructor. Sorry for the trouble."

Zephyr waved a hand expansively. "No problem! The more future pillars of the Marines, the better!"

The recruits outside the field buzzed with discussion. Drake stared intently at Law's back, quietly clenching a fist in her heart.

"I'll... get stronger too!"

Sunlight fell across the training grounds, illuminating the dreams and desires burning in the recruits' hearts.